PHL declines what it brands ‘interfering’ EU aid
THE PHILIPPINES will no longer accept grants from the European Union (EU) particularly those that would allow the bloc to interfere in Manila’s autonomy, Malacañang said yesterday.
The country, according to the Finance chief, will let go around 250 million euros(approxi mately $278 million) in development aid from EU — most of them are targeted at strife-torn areas in Mindanao — to block the 28-member bloc from interfering in Manila’s internal affairs.
“We’re supposed to be an independent nation,” Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea said in a text message to reporters on Thursday.
Manila’s new policy was confirmed by EU’s ambassador here, Franz Jessen, who was quoted in a report by Reuters as saying: “The Philippine government has informed us they no longer accept new EU grants.” He did not elaborate.
That decision by the Philippine government came on the heels of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s arrival from his second visit in China, bringing home with him billions of dollars in pledges.
Mr. Duterte railed against the EU almost as soon as he took office on June 30 last year, after the bloc started raising concerns over the new government’s bloody anti-drug campaign.
Last year, the firebrand leader challenged Europe and the US to withdraw assistance if they disagree with his brutal measures against drug-traffickers. “How do you look at us? Mendicants?” he said.
Thousands of alleged drugtraffickers have been killed in Mr. Duterte’s bloody drug war, with human rights watchers saying many fatalities in the crackdown could be extrajudicial killings committed by cops and vigilantes.
DoF RECOMMENDATION
In a press briefing yesterday, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella said the fresh policy of rejecting new grants from EU was based on a recommendation by the Department of Finance (DoF) to Mr. Duterte.
Mr. Abella also clarified that the directive only applies to a “particular” grant offered by EU that has an “item” which supposedly “allows” the bloc to meddle in Manila’s “internal policies.” He declined to disclose the specifics of the said grant.
Asked what the Philippine government qualifies as “interference,” Mr. Abella said it does not “necessarily” mean comments made by EU officials on the Duterte administration.
“Comments do not necessarily interfere but when it begins to impose certain conditionalities that will interfere with the way we handle it, then we consider that objectionable,” the Palace spokesman said.
Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III disclosed in a text message to reporters yesterday that EU offered an aid package worth $ 280 million, which involves a review of the Philippines’ “adherence to the rule of law.”
“That specific grant that is considered interference in our internal affairs,” Mr. Dominguez added.
The EU hands out grants or direct financial contributions for development projects in foreign countries like the Philippines, which is drawn from the European Development Fund.
In receiving the aid, nations must comply with 27 international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental protection, and good governance.
In 2015, EU had more than doubled its grant assistance to the Philippines to 325 million euros (P17 billion) for 2014-2020, channeling “a more than proportional amount” of it to Mindanao as part of the bloc’s contribution to the peace process.
‘NOT A POLICY’
At least two economic managers of the Duterte administration said the new policy on dealing with EU aid was not discussed with them or the Cabinet.
Ernesto M. Pernia, directorgeneral of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Manila’s move to cut aid from EU might still change because “it’s not a policy decision.”
“I will not take that as a policy,” Mr. Pernia told reporters yesterday. “It is more of a reaction to criticism. I don’t think it’s going to remain as such.”
Budget Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the Philippines can turn to other funding sources as it opted out of securing additional grants from EU. The economy, he said, can still borrow more despite rising global interest rates.
“To me, the impact isn’t as big because those are technical assistance grants. There are other fund sources which we can access,” Mr. Diokno told reporters on the sidelines of the Open Government Dialogues, while noting that he has not officially heard of the decision to reject EU aid.
Asked for clarification on other economic managers being left out of the decision to cut EU aid, Mr. Abella said: “As far as I know, the recommendation came from the DOF. So it’s not entirely accurate that they (economic managers) were not consulted.”
Europe had been funding about 100 community projects across the country. — with